The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-08-18

Dr10g IN SOulo ulOTo OI tuo SduS, uu nos
can string 'em all up together" !
This was agreed to as readily as every
thing else, and ne were taken to an empty
log house q little distance from the rest
and three men detailed to guard us.
We were each given blanket, and
wrapped mine about me and sank down
in corner with the most terrible feeling
I had ever experienced. Ny past life
came before me- wildly, and my mother
and the home I had so recently left with
ont cause rose up before me and caused
me more bitter anguish than it seemed
could endure. My companions hardened
by a desperate life and perhaps by former
hair breadth escapes, conversed in whis-
pers for some time, and seemed to take it
very coolly. After some time the leader
said:
young feller, I reckon ye got to dance
on. air long with us.n
Whether I replied or not I do not re-
member, but he continued:
''I'm mighty sorry we got ye into it, but
we lowed we'd get way all right. Eff
they swing ye jes' keep up and show yer
sand. They say ye're boss thief; act 8
If ye was one. A feller can't die but
once;r, and with this philosophical refec-4
tion he rolled himself Tin his blanket, and
J he and his companion were soon fast
asleep.
I tossed and rolled in the corner I'M
able to sleep, and, might almost soy,
unable to keep awake. I felt dazed and
stupid.
It must have been 8 O'Clock when was
startled by the door opening and one of
the guards stepping in. He came over to
my corner and told me to come out. I
did so, and as stepped through the door
saw a man on horseback and another
horse saddled and bridled.
s'There's your hoss," said the man rs
he leaned down from the saddle, and
recognized his voice as that Of Hawkins.
sect on, an I'll show you out o. this"
At first could hardly comprehend him.
The prospect of deliverance-and that by
the Judge who sentenced me-fairly over
powered me. He warned me to be quick,
and scrambled on my pony and rode
away by Hawkins side, none of the
guards offering any resistance.
> We rode for some distance in silence.
Then Hawkins said:
s"rhere's loose board in the floor, an
they'll think ye got out there. I can't go
with you very far, but I reckon ye can get
away. Keep north o. Yankton, an don't
show .yerself to anybody eff ye can help it.
Skip down into Iowa, an then go home
an stay there"
''I'll do that, !" replied, eff I get away"
'sThat's right-this is no country fer
boys. Ye did me little favor pickin' up
them chips on the boat that time an I'm
willin' to do as much fer ye."
"Why, Hawkins, can't tell you how
thankful I am-but that was no favor I
did on the boat-nothing ut all, and this
saving my life-look at the difference"
''Oh, that's all right-no diff :rence at
all-jes' what we both had q chance to do,
an neither of us couldn't do no more.
Don't say no more bout that. knew yo
didn't steal them hosses an didn't want
to see ye hang fer it.'
'sBut how did you know I didn't have
something to do with it after alls''
"Why, cuss it, ye seeI stole the hosses
myselfT'
"You?''
''Yes, me an some other fellers. We
cached them up on Chouteau creek an
/. these Nebraska fellers tried to run 'em off.
I reckon the moral health o. the commu-
nifty demands that they swing"
'But was that crowd horse--that is
were they all your friendsp'
/. "Oh, no, some Of 'em were farmers
Ye see I'm cheerman Of the Anti
Horse Thief society, and oil my gang are
prominent members. We have to have in
some O. the farmers an other people to
lend respectability to the society, ye know,
. but I'm elected cheerman every time, M